CSU Receives Record High Number of Applications During Priority Period

December 1, 2009
By Erik Fallis

Priority Application Period Update

The California State University has received more than 609,000 undergraduate applications in the two month priority application period beginning Oct. 1 and ending Nov. 30. The applications number shatters previous records and demonstrates the strong demand for a CSU education.

On Nov. 30 alone, the CSU received 73,680 applications through CSUMentor.edu–double the number received in the final 24 hours last year. In the highest volume hour of the night, the CSU received 10,000 applications through csumentor.edu between 10 and 11 p.m. on Nov. 30.

Compared with last year, applications submitted throughout the priority application period increased by 28 percent. Upper division transfer applicants continue to lead the pack with an 87 percent increase (195,113 total applications). Submissions by prospective first-time freshmen also held strong with a 12 percent increase (412,173 total applications).

The "apply early" message has clearly resonated with communities throughout California. Applications from African American, Latino and Native American prospective students rose by more than 24 percent from the prior year.

This high demand comes at a time when the CSU is reducing enrollment by 40,000 students over two years due to an unprecedented $564 million budget cut from the state of California. As a result at least 17 campuses will no longer accept first-time freshmen applications–of those at least 15 campuses will no longer accept transfer applications. Most CSU campuses will also need to apply some additional criteria to out-of-area applicants in order to give priority to local area students.